 | Letters of Mrs. Adams, |  |
TO JOHN ADAMS.
At length an opportunity offers, after a space of near
five months, of again writing to you. Not a vessel
from any port in this State has sailed since January,
VOL I. 12
written twice by way of Virginia, but fear the letters
will never reach you. From you, I have lately
received several letters, containing the most pleasing
intelligence.
Hail, "Goddess, heavenly bright,
Profuse of joy and pregnant with delight."
an admirable texture, and proves the great skill, wisdom,
and abilities of the master workmen. It was
not fabricated in the loom of France, nor are the
materials English, but they are the product of our
own American soil, raised and nurtured, not by the
gentle showers of Heaven, but by the hard labor and
indefatigable industry and firmness of her sons, and
watered by the blood of many of them. May its
duration be in proportion to its value, and, like the
mantle of the prophet, descend with blessings to
generations yet to come. And may you, my dearest
friend, return to your much loved solitude, with the
pleasing reflection of having contributed to the happiness
of millions.
We have not received any account of the signing
the definitive treaty, so that no public rejoicings have
taken place as yet. The fifth article in the treaty
has raised the old spirit against the Tories to such a
height that it would be at the risk of their lives,
should they venture here. It may subside after a
will admit them, even for twelve months. What
then would have been the consequence, if compensation
had been granted them?
Your Journal has afforded me and your friends
much pleasure and amusement. You will learn,
perhaps, from Congress, that the Journal you meant
for Mr. Jackson, was, by some mistake,[1]
enclosed to
the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and consequently
came before Congress, with other public papers.
The Massachusetts delegates applied for it, but were
refused it. Mr. Jackson was kind enough to wait
upon me, and show me your letter to him, and the
other papers enclosed; and I communicated the
Journal to him. Mr. Higginson writes, that it was
moved in Congress by Hamilton, of Virginia, and
Wilson of Pennsylvania, to censure their ministers
for departing from their duty, in not adhering to
their instructions, and for giving offence to the Court
of France by distrusting their friendship. They,
however, could not carry their point. It was said,
the instruction alluded to was founded upon reciprocity,
and that Count de Vergennes had not acted upon
that principle. When these gentry found, that it
would not be considered in the light in which they
wished, they gave out, that, if no more was said upon
that subject, the other would drop. This is all I have
since Mr. Lovell left Congress. Mr. Gerry,
I believe, is determined to go again. I shall then
have a friend and correspondent who will keep me
informed.
Upon receiving a letter from you, in which you
desire me to come to you, should you be long detained
abroad, I took the liberty of writing to Dr.
Lee,[3]
requesting him to give me the earliest intelligence
respecting the acceptance of your resignation.
I do not think it will be accepted, by what I have
already learnt. If it is not, I shall still feel undetermined
what to do. From many of your letters,
I was led to suppose you would not return without
permission. Yet I do not imagine the bare renewal
I shall not run the risk, unless you are appointed
Minister at the Court of Great Britain.
Our friends are all well, and desire to be affectionately
remembered to you. Where is our son?
I hear no more of him than if he was out of the
world. You wrote me in yours of December 4th,
that he was upon his journey to you, but I have
never heard of his arrival. Need I add how earnestly
I long for the day when Heaven will again bless
us in the society of each other? Whether upon
European or American ground, is yet in the book of
uncertainty; but, to feel entirely happy and easy,
I believe it must be in our own republican cottage,
with the simplicity which has ever distinguished it
and your ever affectionate
It was this mistake which furnished the principal accusation
made against Mr. Adams in Alexander Hamilton's celebrated
pamphlet, published in 1600, upon the eve of the Presidential
election.
This will account for the errors, which are many and
striking in this paragraph. No motion of the kind alluded to
appears in the Journal of Congress. But by the papers of
Mr. Madison, lately published, we find that it was made, and
particularly directed against Mr. Adams. It was offered,
however, by Mr. Mercer of Virginia, and seconded by Mr.
Madison himself, for reasons which are stated by the latter;
but it was found not to be acceptable to a large proportion of
the members, particularly to the Eastern delegates, and was,
therefore, never pressed to a decision. Neither Mr. Hamilton
of New York, nor Mr. Wilson of Pennsylvania, appears to
have been anxious to adopt it.
Upon this, the most controverted and debatable ground of
the history of our Revolution, which has been elaborately
occupied of late by Mr. Sparks, in his various contributions
to it, the present is not the fitting occasion to add a word of
commentary.—See the Papers of James Madison, p. 407.
I last evening received yours of February 18th,
in which you are explicit with regard to your return.
I shall, therefore, (let Congress renew or create what
commission they please,) at least wait your further
direction, though you should be induced to tarry
abroad. I have taken no step as yet with regard to
coming out, except writing to Dr. Lee, as mentioned
before. Heaven send you safe to your ever affectionate
| Letters of Mrs. Adams, | |